Power-transmission mechanism



W. WHEELER.

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man Nov. 20.1920. RENEWED JAN. 7.1922.

Patented July 11, 1922.

2 $HEETSSHEET 1.

w. I. WHEELER.

POWERTRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, I920- RENEWED JAN. 7, I922.

1,422,507. Patented July 11, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNETED STATES TN HQE.

WILLIAM I. WLLEEELER, on soor'rvILLE, ILLINOIS.

POWER-TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

0 all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, WILLIAM 1. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scottville, in the county of Macoupin and State of Illinois, have invented certain. new' and useful Improvements in Power-Trans mission Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to power transmission mechanisms and has relation more particularly to a'mechanism of the type dis; closed in my sending applications, Serial'No. 401,892 and erial No. 401,893, filed August 7, 1920, and Serial No. 410,449, filed September 15, 1920, and it is an objecfiof theinvention to provide a mechanism of this general character wherein the centrifugal'or automatically operating clutching means has coacting therewith novel and improved mechanism for rendering said'means active or inactive as the occasions of practice may re uire.

"nother object of the invention is to provide novel and 'improved means whereby the automatic operating mechanism for the clutching means may be rendered inactive to prevent undue wearpn said clutching means and particularly when it is desired to run at any fixed speed. for a definite time-as may be occasioned in running in several miles of mud or sand or on long grades and similar road conditions;

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved power transmission mechanism whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use,-as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in longltudmal section and partly in side elevation of .a transmission mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my inven tion.

,Figure 2 is a sectional view on a reduced scale taken on the line 2-2 of, Figure 1.

Specification of Letters Patent. w -t July M, 1922, Application filed November 20, 1920, Serial No. 425,463. Renewed January 7, 1922. Serial No. 521 762 Figure=3 is a sectional view on areduced scale taken substantially on the, line. 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional viewon a reduced scale taken substantially on the line 4'4-0f Figure 1', and, Y

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of one [of the stop ,meinbersas herein embodied; v I My improved device as herein disclosed -is 'shown u'sed;in connection with a power transmission mechanism of a type set forth in my pending "application, Serial .No.

401, 93,. filed August 7;, 1920; although it is to. be understo od that it can'lic employed with equal facilityin connection with the stru ture shown in my other twdpend-ing applicati ons above referred ,to or in connection with any transmission mechanism-=wherein the clutching means is automatically 1 controlled by a weighted arm or its equivalent. 7

As disclosed in the accompanying drawingsfl) denotes the driving shaft of a motor,

supported in a conventional 'manner and which has loosely mounted thereon a plate 4 constituting an end ,or head of'the housing mechanism substantially the samef'asa Sl'mlj lar structure embodied in my 'pending ap-f v plications hereinbefore referredto andas claimed in my further-pendingapplication,

Serial No. 293,200, filed April 28, 1919.

The end or head 12 of the housing.H

remote from the plate 4 is freely mounted on the driven shaft S so that the shafts D and S and the housing H' are capable-of indefor sliding movement in a direction longitudinal of the shafts D and S.

The inserted end extremity of the shaft has ailixed thereto a gear 19 preferably of a greater radius than the gear 15. The gear 19 is in mesh with the gears 20, when the carriages arein one position, said ears 20 being each fixed. to a shaft 17. y this means, the drivin shaft D is operatively enga'ged with the driven shaft S and in a manner whereby the driven shaft S may be roi tated at a speed less than the speed of the with a relatively broad gear 21 constantly brought into' mesh with the in mesh with a gear 16. When the carriages 18 are sutliciently moved in a direction inwardly of the shaft S, the gears 20 disengage from the gear 19 and the gears 21 are gear 19, resulting in a reverse rotation of the shaft S.

YVhen this reversing of the direction of rota-- tion of the shaft; S is required, a suitable clutching means enerally indicated at 22 U is employed to positively hold the housing or casing H against rotation. The mechanism as generally indicated at 22 may be of any type preferred and is adapted to be manually operated from a point exteriorly,of the housing or casing r and may be of the con- Y struction indicated in my pending application, Serial No. 401,892, filed August 7, 1920.

23 denotes an actuating mechanism for a the carriages 18 and which mechanism may .be operated in any desired manner. I wish it to be understood that it is not my purpose to limit the present embodiment of my invention to thisparticular arrangement of gears or reversing mechanism just described as any conventionalmechanism may be substituted therefor.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the driven shaft at a point inwardly of the housing or casing H and in close proximity thereto is a disc or plate 24. The disc or plate 24 at diametrically opposed points is provided with the inwardly directed arms 25 of a length to extend inwardly of the housing or casing H along the major length thereof.

The arms 25 are relatively broad and operatively engaged with said-arms 25 at a plurality of points spaced longitudinally thereof are the clutching units C. Each of said units C is adap tied for coaction with the housing or casing each of said clutching units in itself being of a tension insufficient to ppsitively lock or hold the housing or casing against rotary movement relative thereto but the combined action of said clutching units bein suflicient to effect such action.

Each 0 the clutching units C comprises the band or brake sections 26, an end portion of one of said sections 26 being pivotally engaged, as at 27,'with an arm 25 at one side of its transverse center, while an end portion of the second band or brake section'is pivotally engaged, as at 28, with a second arm 25} at the opposite side of its transverse center.

The opposite or free end portion of each of the brakeor band sections 26 is provided, .with an'-' ear .or extension 29 extending through a transversely disposed slot 30 formed in the adjacent arm 25.

Each of the arms 25 outwardly of the extensions or ears 29 is provided with a rock shaft 31 extending longitudinally of the arms 25 and rotatably supported by the bearings 32. Fixed to the shaft 31 are the cam members 33 of a number equal to the number of. the extensions or ears 29 and each of said cam members 33 has separate coaction with a single one of said ears or extensions 29.

An end portion of each of the shafts 31 is provided with the laterally disposed arm 34 provided at its free end portion with a weighted member 35 so that under the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the disc or plate 24 with the shaft S, the arms 34: 80 will move outwardly resulting in such rotation of the shafts 31 to cause the cams 33 to engage the ears or extensions 29 of the brake or band sections comprised in each of the clamping units to cause said band or brake sections to have the requisite frictional con-' tact with the periphery of the housing or casing H whereby said casing or housing H. may be caused to rotate in unison with the shafts D and S so that the speedof the driven shaft S will be increased. It will be understood that when the clamping action of the clutching units 0 is sufficient to hold the casing or housing H against rotation relalative to said clutching units, the shaft S will rotate in high, but the, rotation of the shaft S between high and low will depend upon the amount of slip the housing'or casing'H may have with respect to the clutching units 0. In accordance with the amount of slip of the housing or casing H with respe'ct to the clutching units C, the speed of the shaft S will be reduced above low. As before stated, the low speed of the shaft S occurs when the clutching units C are out of 105 frictional or working engagement with the housing or casing H.

Uponstarting of the motor, the shaft D. rotates and at which time the clutching units C are in neutral or release and as the shaft 110 D rotates, the shaft S is caused to rotate at a lower speed in the same direction through the operative connection afforded by the housing or casing H and the gear assembly carried thereby and coacting with the shafts 115 D and S as hereinbefore set forth. During this period, the clutching mechanism comprising the band or brake sections 9 coacting with the annular flange 10 hold the housing or casing A against movement reverse to the direction of travel of the shaft S. As the speed of the motor increases dependent upon the load thereon, the shaft S will correspondingly increase in speed and as the disc or plate 24 rotates'with, said shaft S, the shafts 31 will be automatically rocked under the influence of the centrifugal force created by the weighted arms 34' to cause the brake or band sections 26 of the clutching units C to frictionally engage the periphery of the housing or casing H whereby said housing or casing H is caused to rotate in unison with the shafts D and S and in the same direction. The greater the frictional contact of the units C with the housing or casing H, the greater the rotating speed of the shaft S. In other words, when the clutching units C grip the casing or housing H in a manner to prevent rotation or slipplng between said housing or casing H and the clutching units C, the shafts and S will rotate at the same speed but thisimaximum or high speed will be correspondingly decreased in accordance insu'ifici'ent in itself to hold the housing or casing H against slipping or rotation relative to the clutching unit. However, by providing a number of clutching units of an aggregate or total tension to hold the casing or housing H against such relative rotation or slip, it has been fully demonstrated in pra btice that undue heating of the clutchin units is eliminated and that the life thereof is materially prolonged because each of the separate elements is not subjected to the same amount of wear as would be .the case if only a single clutching unit of requisite tension or strength was employed.

It is also to be understood that the cams 33 are so arranged upon the shafts 31 to coact with the extensions or ears 29 in a manner to cause all of the clutching units C to frictionally engagewith the housing or casing H at substantially the same moment, although should there be any slight or minute variation in the applications of these separate elements, thelefiiciency of the series of clutchin units is not reduced.

. It is to e understood that the band or brake sections 26 comprised in the clutching units C are normally maintained substantially out of frictional contact with thecasing or housing and, as herein disclosed, this is accomplished by the retractile members or s rings as.

Itis o the utmost importance to provide 1means whereby eachof the arms 34 is held centrifugal force beyond a certain point and thus prevent the clutching elements C from against outward swinging movement under engaging the housing H and thus prevent 1; undue wear upon the brake sections26 when it i's desired to run at any fixed speed for any definite time as might be"the case in running in several miles of mud or sand or long grades or other road conditions.

Coacting with each of the arms 34 is a stopmember M overlying the outer face of the disc or plate 24. The member M comprises an elongated bar 36 disposed through the brackets 37 and provided at its opposite ends with the outstanding lugs 38 and 39, the lug 38 being positioned in relative close proximity to the axial center of ,the disc or plate 24 while 'thesecond lug 39 is disposed in the path of travel of an arm 34. The elongated member 36, when free, moves out-. wardly with the arm 34 in order to permit the desired clutching actions through the medium of the elements C as hereinbefore referred to. The outer end portion of each of the elongated members 36 is provided with a lug 40 which slidably engages within a slot 41 plate 24.

The outer end or head 1 of the casing A is provided with a bearing 2 through which extends the shaft S. The bearing 2 within the casing A closely approaches the hub of the disc or plate 24. Surrounding the inner portion of the bearing 2 or that portion within the casing A is a collar or sleeve 42 provided inits periphery with an annular groove or channel 43 and in which is adapted to be engaged a yoke or the like extending'exteriorly of the casing A to provide properly positioned in the disc or g manual means whereby the collar or sleeve 42 may be moved or'shifted longitudinally of the shaft S or toward or from the disc" or plate 24 as may be required.

The collar or sleeve 42 is provided with an inwardly directed sleeve 44 having its inner face or wall spaced from the bearing 2 so that when the collar 42 is moved inwardly or in a direction toward the disc or plate '24, the sleeve 44 will pass over the lugs 38 of the members M whereby said members will be held against outward movement so that the lugs 39 operate to limit the outward movement of the arms 34 to prevent the clutching elements C from engaging the housing H.

The'free edge of the sleeve 44 is beveled inwardly, as at 45, while the outer ends of the lugs 38 are correspondingly beveled, as at 46. The beveled faces 45 and 46 permit the sleeve 44, when the collar 42 is moved inwardly or toward the disc or plate 24, to properlyand effectually engage the lugs 38 to retract or move inwardly the members M from their extreme outward position, so

that the clutching elements C may be rendered inoperative andheld in such condition while the transmission mechanlsm is in operation and thus prevents the housing H from becoming a unit and to allow the drive for an indefinite time without wear or heat a fixed speed or'ratio to be obtained which would be desirable when running in mud or other conditions where a positive low or intermediate speed is preferred. It. is to be understood that this rendering of the clutching elements C is applicable to low or second 01' any number, of intermediate speeds and it is, therefore, to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular speed.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a power transmission mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the conven ience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and itwill also'be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

' 1. In a transmission mechanism, a driving shaft, a driven-shaft, means operatively con necting said shafts including a member constituting a drum, said member being loosely mounted on both of said shafts, agear assembly carried by the member and coacting with said shafts, a clutching unit carried by one of the shafts and coacting with the drum, means operable under the influence of centrifugal force for adjusting the clutching element into frictional engagement with the drum, and means directly engaging said last named means for rendering the samein-- operative.

2. In a transmission mechanism, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, means operatively connectin said shafts including a member constiuting a drum,'said member being loosely mounted on both of said shafts, a gear assem ly carried by the member and coacting with said shafts, a clutching unit carried by one of the shafts and coacting with the drum, means operable under the influence of centrifugal force for adjusting the clutching element into frictional engagement with the drum, and manually operated means directly engaging said last named means for rendering the same inoperative.

3. In a transmission mechanism, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a member constituting a drum, said member" being loosely mounted on both of said shafts, a gear assembly carried by the member and coacting with said shafts, a clutching unit carried by one of the shafts and coacting wlth the drum, means operable under the influenceof centrifugal forcefor adjusting the clutching element into frictional engagement with the drum, said means including an arm moving outwardly under centrifugal force, means coacting with said arm for holding the same against such outward movement, ,said means includinga member supported for'sliding movement and proof centrifugal" force for adjusting the clutching element into frictional engagement with the drum, said means including an-arm'moving outwardly under 'centrifu al force, means "coacting with said arm or movement, said means including a member '90' holdingthe same -against., such outward supported for sliding movement and provided with a lug with which the arm engages, a second lug'carried by the member, anda movable element overlying the second named lug when the element is in one position for holding the member against movement. 5. In a transmission mechanism, a driving shaft,-a driven shaft, means operatively connecting saidshaft s includingv a member constituting a drum, said member being loosely mounted onboth of said shaftsfa gear assembly carried by themember and 5 coacting with said shafts,a clutchingunit carried b one of .the shafts, and coacting with the drum, means operable under the influence of centrifugal force for adjusting the clutching element into frictional en-i gagement with the drum, said means including an arm moving outwardly under centrifugal force, means coacting with said arm for holding the same against such outward movement, said means incluing a member supported for sliding movement and provided with-a lug with which the arm engages, a second lug carried by the member, and a movable element overlying the second named lug when the element is in one position for holding the member against movement, the coacting end portions of the element and second named lug being correspondingly beveled. v

6. In combination with acentrifugally operated element including an arm swinging outwardly under centrifugal force, a member supported for sliding movement, said am engaging, the member whereby said member and arm are adapted to move' by the arm is rendered inactive.

7. In combination with a centrifugally operated element including an arm swinging outwardly under centrifugal force, a

member supported for sliding movement, said arm engaging the member whereby said member and arm are adapted to move outwardly in unison, and means engageable for holding the member against such movement whereby the arm isrendered inactive, said means, when engaged with the member, holding said member at substantially the limit of its inward movement.

8. In combination with a centrifugally operated element including an arm. swinging outwardly under centrifugal force, a member supported for sliding movement an provided with a lug with which the armengages when swinging outwardly, a

movable element engaging the second lug when the element is in one position for holding the member against movement.

9. In combination with a centri-fugally operated element including an arm swinging outwardly Under centrifugal force, a member supported for sliding movement and provided with a lug with which the arm engages when -swing1ng outwardly, a second lug carried by the member, and a movable second lug carried by. the member, and a I element engaging the second lug when the element is 1n one position for holding the member against movement, the coacting portion ofthe element and second named lug being correspondingly beveled. j j

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature. WILLIAM; WHEELER. 

